TCA Commends National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Resolution Supporting Trade with Turkey

Number 208 | November 5, 2012

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) passed a resolution on October 27, calling on the U.S. Congress to pass legislation that encourages and facilitates tribal trade with Turkey and other World Trade Organization (WTO) countries.

“Having worked for many years to build bridges between tribal communities and Turkey, we are delighted to learn of the adoption of this important resolution by the National Congress,” said TCA President G. Lincoln McCurdy. “Tribes across the country are urging Congress to pass this legislation and grant them the same trading privileges as states.”

The resolution, which was introduced by Ms. Brenda Lintinger, Councilmember of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, praises Turkey for its leadership in encouraging investment and economic growth in tribal communities through trade with WTO members. It was adopted during NCAI’s 69th Annual Convention in Sacramento, CA. The NCAI resolution calls on the 113th Congress to take up legislation similar to H.R. 2362, a bill that would have encouraged trade between tribes and WTO countries, but failed to meet the two-thirds vote needed to pass.

NCAI, founded in 1944, is the oldest, largest and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization serving the interests of tribal governments and communities.

The full text of the resolution can be found on the NCAI website at www.ncai.org

For more information on the TCA programs benefitting Native Americans, please visit the TCA website.